Aquatic Environments

Which property of water is responsible for both surface tension and the ability of plants to take up water at their roots?

• Adhesion

• Polarity

• Cohesion

• Solubility

What is the primary reason water is considered the "universal solvent" and is crucial for biological processes like nutrient transport in cells?

• Its high boiling point

• Its ability to form hydrogen bonds

• Its bent molecular shape

• Its polarity, allowing it to dissolve a wide variety of molecules

What is the main energy source that drives the hydrologic cycle by initiating the process of evaporation?

• Earth's core heat

• The moon's gravitational pull

• The sun

• Wind currents

What percentage of Earth's total water is freshwater, and where is the majority of this freshwater stored?

• 96.5% in oceans

• 2.5% in glaciers and ice caps

• 2.5% in groundwater

• 2.5%, with the majority stored in glaciers and ice caps

Which of the following organisms is commonly found in the intertidal zone?

• Whales

• Dolphins

• Starfish

• Chemosynthetic bacteria

What is a characteristic feature of the Pelagic Zone?

• It is rich in nutrients and supports bacteria and fungi.

• It is the deepest part of the ocean with hydrothermal vents.

• It is further from land and experiences thermal stratification.

• It is where freshwater mixes with saltwater.

How do chemosynthetic bacteria in the abyssal zone obtain energy?

• From sunlight penetrating the deep ocean.

• By consuming other organisms that rely on photosynthesis.

• From reactions involving inorganic chemicals emitted by hydrothermal vents.

• By feeding on dead organisms that sink from upper layers.

Why would many freshwater species struggle to survive if moved to marine ecosystems without adaptations?

• Freshwater has higher temperatures than marine water

• Freshwater contains different dissolved substances (e.g., low salt) than marine water

• Marine ecosystems have no predators

• Freshwater species cannot swim in currents

Which factor is NOT listed in the video as influencing marine ecosystems?

• Availability of light

• Local topography

• Water salinity

• Soil pH

The video states there is an inverse relationship between dissolved oxygen and temperature. This means that as water temperature increases:

• Dissolved oxygen increases

• Dissolved oxygen decreases

• Dissolved oxygen stays the same

• Dissolved oxygen becomes toxic